Method for treating atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis

Abstract

This invention relates to a method of treating atopic and contact dermatitis using compounds of formula (I) ##STR1## wherein the terms A, Z, R, R 1 , R 2 , R 3 and M are herein defined.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating atopic dermatitis or contact dermatitis in a mammal which process comprises administering to a mammal suffering from either disease a therapeutically effective amount of at least one compound of formula I ##STR10## or an N-oxide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, where A is CH 2  and Z is S(O) q  where q is 0, 1 or 2; or O; or m is 0-5;   R is C 1  to C 20  -aliphatic, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl C 1  to C 10  -aliphatic where substituted phenyl has one or more radicals selected from the group consisting of lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, trihalomethyl, and halo, or R is C 1  to C 20  -aliphatic-O-, or R is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl C 1  to C 10  -aliphatic-O- where substituted phenyl has one or more radicals selected from the group consisting of lower alkoxy, lower alkyl, trihalomethyl, and halo;   R 1  is --(C 1  to C 5  aliphatic)R 4 , --(C 1  to C 5  aliphatic)CHO, --(C 1  to C 5  aliphatic)CH 2  OR 8 , --R 4 , --CH 2  OH, or CHO;   R 2  is H, halo, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, --CN, --(CH 2 ) n  R 4 , --CH(NH 2 )(R 4 ), or --(CH 2 ) n  R 9  where n is 0-3 and where R 9  is --N(R 7 ) 2 , where each R 7  is independently H, or an aliphatic hydrocarbon group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or acyl of 1-6 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl--(CH 2 ) n  -- group of 4 to 10 carbons where n is 0-3, or both R 7  groups form a ring which includes the nitrogen and having 4 to 6 carbons; or   R 3  is hydrogen, lower alkyl, lower alkoxy, halo, --CH, R 4 , NHCONH 2 , or OH;   each R 4  group is independently --COR 5  where R 5  is --OH, or --OX where X is a pharmaceutically acceptable cation, or R 5  is --N(R 7 ) 2  where each R 7  is independently H, or an aliphatic group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a cycloalkyl--(CH 2 ) n  -- group of 4 to 10 carbons where n is 0-3, or both R 7  groups form a ring having 4 to 6 carbons, or R 4  is a sulfonamide, or an amide, or tetrazol-5-yl; and   R 8  is hydrogen, C 1  to C 6  alkyl, or C 1  to C 6  -acyl.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 where, in formula 1, Z is S(O) q  and m is 0 or 1. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 2 where in formula 1, R is alkoxy of 8 to 15 carbon atoms or unsubstituted or substituted pheny-C 1  to C 10  -alkyl-O- where substituted phenyl is substituted with fluoro, trifluoromethyl or methoxy and R 1  is R 4  CH═CH-- or R 4  CH 2  CH 2  --. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 3 where in formula 1 q is 0 and m is 0. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 2 which uses a compound of formula 1 where R is unsubstituted or substituted phenyl-C 2  to C 10  alkoxy. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2 which uses a compound of formula 1 which is (E)-3- 3- 2-phenethyloxy!-6- (2,6-dichlorophenylsulfinyl)methyl!-2-pyridinyl!-2-propenoic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.